Marketing Effort Gets Money

TOWN TALK

February 25, 1998

FORT LAUDERDALE

City commissioners have agreed to contribute $20,000 to a marketing program designed to attract national and regional corporate headquarters to the city.

The commission appropriated $40,000. Half of it is to be repaid by other contributions. The Downtown Development Authority has agreed to contribute $20,000 for the program's first year. The Broward Economic Development Council is offering databases and other assistance.

Officials said they have commitments from several private companies, including BankAtlantic, NationsBank, Republic Industries, Michael Swerdlow Cos., the Sun-Sentinel and SunTrust Bank, to provide $20,000 in matching funds.

Fields will be ready in 2000

City commissioners have rejected a request by Holiday Park Little League representatives to spend $140,000 to speed up improvements to ballfields at the park.

The work would have allowed youths to play there during the 1999 season.

Commissioners said they didn't want to spend more money on the fields when the city is spending millions to upgrade its largest park. Work on the fields is scheduled to be finished for the start of the Little League baseball season in February 2000.

LAUDERDALE-BY-SEA

Alley to become walkway

The town has agreed to turn an alley behind Town Hall - now used by cars - into a pedestrian walkway.

The idea is to provide a passive recreation area for people using the adjacent Friedt Park, a block west of the beach.

The alley would be closed off to cars. Pavers, a water fountain, benches, lighting and landscaping would be installed.